The novel begins with the simultaneous kidnapping of Lalila and a revolt within Opar, with Hadon locked out of the city. What follows is a breakneck tale of double-crosses, combat, secret passages and specters from Hadon’s past, all amidst the exotic, barbaric setting of ancient Opar. Readers of the previous Khokarsan novels know that PJF created an incredibly rich and interesting milieu for Hadon and others to adventure in. Christpher Paul Carey has the background down cold, never missing a step.

Carey keeps things rolling with clarity and a deft hand for characterization. The man knows how to write a fast-moving, entertaining book, just like his idols Burroughs and Farmer….

Christopher Paul Carey nails PJF’s style. It’s easy to see why Farmer chose this guy to continue the Opar legacy. We need more novels of flat-out grand adventure like this nowadays. Get out there and grab a copy.

Pick up Skelos Issue #2 to read the full review…and a lot of great fiction and articles!

Dave Brzeski has reviewed Blood of Ancient Opar over at the British Fantasy Society website. Here are a couple excerpts:

I mentioned in that other review that this series would be well worth consideration as an epic Game of Thrones style TV show and this latest addition only confirms that. Political, religious intrigue, mass battles and downright awe-inspiring female characters. Hadon’s daughter, La is just sixteen years old, but she terrifies me. The author cleverly mixes her powerful presence with just enough inexperience to make her still seem human…

The writing, as always with Christopher Paul Carey is never less than exemplary. I’ve read few authors who can describe a fight, whether between two antagonists, or a mass battle, quite so vividly. He somehow manages to evoke the feel of each of his muses (H. Rider Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Philip José Farmer) without his style ever seeming archaic. I once described Christopher Paul Carey as the best writer currently working in the classic Heroic Fantasy genre. This book gives me no reason to alter that opinion.

In November 2016, Éditions Mnémos will be publishing Opar, Intégrale, a French-language omnibus encompassing Hadon of Ancient Opar, Flight to Opar, and The Song of Kwasin. This is the first French collection of the original Khokarsa/Ancient Opar trilogy, and also marks the first translation into French of The Song of Kwasin, which I coauthored with Philip Jose Farmer. I don’t yet know who the cover artist is but I love the artwork!*

* Update: According to the Internet Speculative Fiction Database, the cover artist is Grant Regan and the translator of The Song of Kwasin (Le Geste de Kwasin) is Laura Dupra. The translator of Hadon of Ancient Opar (Hadon, fils de l’antique Opar) and Flight to Opar (Fuite à Opar) is George H. Gallet.

Both the hardcover and paperback editions of Hadon, King of Opar are now out of print at the publisher. The good news is that it will soon be available for the first time in an ebook edition—stay tuned for details!

Meanwhile, copies of Blood of Ancient Opar are still available from Meteor House at the time of this posting. It’s also a limited edition (like the sold-out Hadon, King of Opar and Exiles of Kho were), so I recommend picking it up now while you still can if you want a print copy.

Last week I flew out to Columbus, Ohio to attend my fifth consecutive PulpFest, which also played host to FarmerCon XI, the annual Philip José Farmer convention. As usual, I had a blast reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. Here are a few photos from the con:

The welcoming banner.

At the Meteor House table signing copies of BLOOD OF ANCIENT OPAR, which was released at the con.

The Thursday night FarmerCon dinner at Max & Irma’s (we also had a much larger FarmerCon pizza party/dinner in the food court area of the hotel, not pictured).

The FarmerCon panel on Collaborating with Philip José Farmer. Pictured from right to left, with the titles of our collaborations with Phil: Paul Spiteri (“Getting Ready to Write”), me (THE SONG OF KWASIN, “Kwasin and the Bear God”), Win Scott Eckert (THE EVIL IN PEMBERLEY HOUSE), and Danny Adams (THE CITY BEYOND PLAY, DAYWORLD: A HOLE IN WEDNESDAY). Photo courtesy of ThePulp.Net.

One of the highlights at the con was when Mike Croteau of Meteor House presented me with artist Bob Eggleton’s concept sketch of the cover of BLOOD OF ANCIENT OPAR. Photo courtesy of Danny Adams.

Another highlight was when Mike ushered me over to a dealer’s table where the original (and uncropped!) cover art for IRONCASTLE by J. H. Rosny (translated and retold by Philip José Farmer) was on display. Sadly, the $10,000 it was going for was out of my price range.